Cotton picking machine



Aug. 18, 1931. w. s. HOBSON COTTON PICKING momma Filed Nov. 9, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 18, 1931 w. s. HOBSQN 1,819,242

COTTON PICKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mil/22151170278010, mm

u 18, 1931. w, H BSON 1,819,242

COTTON PICKING MACHIN Filed Nov. 9. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 18, 1931. w. s. HOBSON COTTON PICKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 18, 1931 WILLIAM S. HOBSON, OF ABERDEEN, MISSISSIPPI COTTON r rcxnve MACHINE 1 Application filed November 9, 1929. Serial No. 406,060. N

This invention relates to cotton picking machines, the primary objectof the invention being to provide a machine so 0011- structed that it may be moved along a row of cotton plants to remove the cotton from opposite sides of the plants.

An important object of the invention is to provide a machine for picking cotton, the

machine being provided with picking fingers that will engage the cotton, removing it from the plants, the fingers being of a novel construction so that they will not 1n ure the stalks and unripened bolls of the plants. Another object of the invention is to provide means for removing the cotton from the picking fingers and delivering the cotton to an endless carrier for depositlng the cotton into a receiver at the rear of the machine. 7 With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the deser1pt1on proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the nvention herein disclosed, may be made wlthin the scope of what is claimed, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is a plan view of a cotton plckmg machine constructed in accordance with the invention. D

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof. Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view 35 through one of the sections of the body portion.

' Figure 4 is a fragmentaltransverse sectional view through the machine taken on lme 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmental sectional view through the forward end of one of the sections.

Figure 7 is a fragmental detail view illustrating the manner of securlng the plckmg fingers to the picking drums.

Referring to the drawings indetail, the machine comprises opposed sections 5 and 50 6 respectively, each of the sections compris- D shown by the drawlngs.

body portion, the open, as clearly The sections of the body portion are connected by means of the bars 7 and 8, the bar 7 being disposed adjacent to the forward end of the machine, while thebar8 is positionedadjacent to the rear end thereof. Metallic frames 9 are connected with the bars 7 and 8, and extend under the sections, to support the sections. Axles 10 are provided on the frames, and accommodate the supporting wheels 11 at the rear of the machine, therebeing provided sleeves 12 on the axles 10 that have pinions 13 at one of t thereof, the sleeves and with the wheels 11. Set

he respective ends pinions being rotated screws 14 extend through the hubs of the wheels 11 andconnect with the sleeves so that rotary movement is transmitted to the sleeves.

Stub shafts 15 extend from the body portion, on which shafts the pinions 16 are mounted the pinions'being supplied with laterally extended hubs to which the sprockets 17 are secured.

The front wheels which are indicated by. the reference character" 18, are mounted on the axles 19 secured to the rods 20 that extend upwardly, terminating at points adjacent to the top of the machine, where they have connection with the arms 21 connected by means of the that in turn are bar 22. This bar 22 is moved laterally, by means of the steering lever 23, which is connected to the bar Chains 25 operate over the sprockets 17, and transmit movement of the sprockets 17 to the shafts 26 that extend transversely of the sections. Drums 27 are mounted on the shafts 26 and provide supports for the end less conveyors 28, which also operateover the drums 29 disposed adjacent to the rear of the machine.

The adjacent forward ends of the sections diverge,- as clearly shown by Figure 4: of the drawings, so that when themachine is being moved over a row of cotton plants, the plants that are not in direct line with the space between the section ofthe machine, will be fed inwardly without danger plants.

of injuring the Supported at the front ends of the sections, are the picking drums to which the picking fingers 31 are secured, the picking fingers 31 being mounted on strips of leather that are secured to the drums. Each finger comprises a length of flexible wire material bent upon itself to provide aloop member32- through which .thesecuring member 33 extends to secure the linger to the drum. Thus it.will..

be seen that due to this construction, the fingers may flex rearwardly, when they contact with rigid stalks or green .,bolls, thereby preventing injury to the green b plants.

The picking drums are mounted-on the olls and shafts 34jthat have their loWerend-s mounted inthebearings 35, the. upper ends of the .JlliLflZS being mounted in, bearings 36 sup- POItQClyOII the upper-surfaces of the sections.

Beveled pinious 3'? aremounted-at the upper ends of theshafts 3%, which pinions are in mesh with; the p nions 38 mounted outlieshafts 39, which; shafts 39 aresupported in elongated bearings 40 secured to themachine.

,Pinions 41 are mounted 011 the opposite ends of the shafts 39 and mesh with the pinions e2 carried at theupper ends ofthe shafts 423 on which the drums 44 are mounted Rows of brushesd5 are mounted on .the

- drums 14:, the brushes; being oflengths to .one of'theshafts39is mountedadjacent to the-outer edge of .the p1n1on'3I, associated therew1th,'to the end that the drums on which i the pickingfingers are moun.ted,'rotateinopposite directions, or in directions to pull. the cotton into themachine as the cotton 1s be ing removed fromtheplants.

the machine straddlingthe row, As the ma- Rotary movement is transmitted to the shafts 4:3,- and brushes mounted thereon,

through the horizontalshafts 46 thatare- .supplied with-pinions 47 at their outer ends,

Whichpinions L'Z fmesh withthe pinions 42.

These shafts 46 are operated by'means of the.

motors48 that areasupported on theupper surface of the machine.

49 so that the cotton will: beheld within the machine. Located at therearof :each' section, is a;,receiving compartment 50. into which the cotton which has beenpicked. is

.. deposited, the receiving compartment-s 50.be-.

ing supplied with doors :51 which maybe opened by the attendant, when it is desired to,

remove the cotton from the machine.

In the operation of the machine, the Ina-i chine is moved alongarow of cotton-plants,

chine is moved over ,the ground surface, the picking fingers rotate, contacting with the cotton toremove the .cotton from the plants.

The picking fingers carry the cotton into the,

The sidesof the. sections are covered withjwire mesh material machine, Where the cotton is removed from the picking fingers by the brushes, wh1ch deposit the cotton onto the endless carriers 28, which carry the cotton to the rear of the machine depositing the cotton in the receiving compartments.

It will be obvious that the picking fingers will spring or move rearwardly, should they :ontactwith the stalks or green bolls of the cotton plants, thereby insuring against the picking fingers damaging the unripened bollscr plants.

I claim:

1. In acotton,pickingmachine, a body portion comprising spaced lateral sections, picking-drums at theforward ends of the lateral sections, strips of'le'ath'er stretched around the picking drums, picking fingers secured to the ships of leather to permit the fingers. to bend rearwardly, rotary brUshes perat-L ing adjacent to the picking fingers for removiug material from thepicking fingers, and endless conveyors forreceiving the cotton from thebrushes. v

In a cotton picking machine, a body'porti-on comprising spaced sections having .open forward ends, cotton picking fingers operatf in a efront end of (the machine, brushes 1g adj acent to-the'picking fingers for 1; material from the-picking finge s, saidbrush members contacting with the walls of thesections to clean material from the.

brush members,- and means for receivingma: terial. from the brush members. i

3. lira cotton picking-machine, a body portion comprising spacedsections, the side walls ingthein forward ends open to permit mate rial to pass thereinto, vertical drums mounted, at the forward ends of thesections, pickinggfingers:mounted on the drums, each of said picking fingers including a lengths .of.

wire material bent intermediate its ends,,providing an elongated loop, a securing screw extending. through the loop of each fpicking finger, to adjustably mount the lingersion the drums, a strip of flexible material. wrapped around eachdrum, and said flexible material having openings through which the picklng fingers extend.

In testimony that I claimthe foregoing as my own,,l have hereto affixed.my signature.

LL S-f HQBSON-Y of the sections being covered with a foramia 

